Hungarian fees abolishment referendum, 2008

A referendum on revoking government reforms which introduced doctor visit fees paid per visitation and medical fees paid per number of days spent in hospital as well as tuition fees in higher education took place in Hungary on 9 March 2008.

The referendum was initiated by opposition party Fidesz against the ruling MSZP. The procedure (which led to the referenda) started on 23 October 2006, when Viktor Orbán, the leader of Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union announced they would hand in seven questions to the National Electorate Office, three of which (on abolishing co-payments, daily fees and college tuition fees) were officially approved on 17 December 2007 and called on 24 January 2008. It is assumed likely that the referendum will pass, but it is uncertain whether turnout will be high enough to make it valid; [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6344430.html "Hungarian president announces referendum date"] , Xinhua ("People's Daily Online"), 24 January 2008.] polls indicate about 40% turnout with 80% in favour of rescinding the three reforms. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6368962.html Hungary's ruling MSZP vows to stick to medical reforms despite referendum - People's Daily Online ] ]

To be valid, the referendum requires at least 25% of the about 8 million eligible voters to vote in favour of one of the options.

Questions

*Do you agree that students in state-subsidised higher education should be exempt from tuition fees?
** _hu. Egyetért-e Ön azzal, hogy az államilag támogatott felsőfokú tanulmányokat folytató hallgatóknak ne kelljen képzési hozzájárulást fizetni?
*Do you agree that family doctor care, dentistry care and special outpatient care should be exempt from consultation fees with effect from 1 January in the year after the referendum is held on the present issue?
** _hu. Egyetért-e Ön azzal, hogy a háziorvosi ellátásért, fogászati ellátásért és járóbeteg-szakellátásért továbbra se kelljen vizitdíjat fizetni?
*Do you agree that inpatient care should be exempt from daily hospital fees with effect from 1 January in the year after the referendum is held on the present issue?
** _hu. Egyetért-e Ön azzal, hogy a fekvőbeteg-gyógyintézeti ellátásért a jelen kérdésben megtartott népszavazást követő év január 1-jétől ne kelljen kórházi napidíjat fizetni?

Results

On the day of the referendum, the following turnout data was reported: [ [http://www.valasztas.hu/en/07/7_0.html National Election Office ] ]

*until 7:00 1.13%
*until 9:00 7.66%
*until 11:00 18.69%
*until 13:00 26.92%
*until 15:00 35.71%
*until 17:30 46.34%
*until 19:00 50,48% (final turnout)

The turnout percentages are out of a total of 8,056,173. [ [http://www.valasztas.hu/en/05/5_0.html National Election Office ] ] Voting was possible between 6:00 and 19:00. Official results showed that the necessary votes were achieved, with a turnout of over 50% (higher than opinion polls had expected) and more than 80% of voters in favour of abolishing the fees; the Prime Minister stated that the fees would be abolished on 1 April 2008 following the referendum, but that the government had no funds available to replace the income lost for the higher educations institutions and health institutions due to the abolishment of the fees.

References